Dzibilchaltún word is formed by four Mayan words: Dzib, writing; il, locative; shawl, flat; and tun, stone; which can translate as "place where there is writing on flat stones." Cultural Significance: Dzibilchaltún is a settlement with a long occupational sequence from the Late Preclassic to the Late Post Classic, therefore became one of the largest settlements the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The distribution of architectural spaces is concentric type and reached to cover an area of 16 square kilometers.

The archeological importance of the ruins of the ancient city of Dzibilchaltún, it makes up for in the excellent small Museo del Pueblo Maya, which examines the persistence of Maya culture until modern times. There’s also a very pretty cenote, in which you can swim, and the area is part of an eco-archeological park, where birders can catch the roughwinged swallow and the Yucatán woodpecker. Allow about two hours to see everything. The place was settled from 1000 BC right through to the Conquest, the longest continuous occupation of any known site. More than eight thousand structures have been mapped, but unfortunately, little has survived, in particular because the ready-dressed stones were a handy building material, used in local towns and in the Mérida–Progreso road. There is very little signage at the site, so it’s worth hiring a guide at the main entrance.

From the museum at the entrance, a meandering nature trail leads to the Templo de las Siete Muñecas (Temple of the Seven Dolls). The temple was originally a simple square pyramid, subsequently built over with a more complex structure. Later still, a passageway was cut through to the original building and seven deformed clay figurines (dolls) were buried, with a tube through which their spirits were meant to commune with the priests. The structure is remarkable for being the only known Maya temple to have windows, and for having a tower in place of the usual roofcomb. On the equinoxes, the sun shines straight through the tower doors, in a display of ancient astronomical savvy that draws a crowd of tourists. One of the ancient causeways that linked the city’s major points runs straight from the temple to another cluster of ruins. The centre of the grassy field is dominated by the shell of a Franciscan chapel. A little further west, Cenote Xlacah, in addition to providing the ancient city with water, was of ritual importance to the Maya: more than six thousand offerings including human remains have been discovered in its deeper end. It’s also home to several types of fish, including the Yucatán tetra, a type of sardine found only in the peninsula.

Hours Monday through Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00 hours and the Museum Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 16:00 hours.

Dzibilchaltun Ruins 01 (999) 9 22 01 93 Yucatan INAH Center 01 (999) 9 44 00 33 9 44 00 43 44 40 68 and 9.

Starting from the city of Merida, towards the north coast, 8 km advancing along the road Merida-Progreso (No. 261), to immediately take the road that leads to the villages of Chablekal and Conkal, playing before the people Dzibilchaltún at the end of which is diversion leading to the archaeological site. Visitors can reach the site by public transport.